Album Notes

Mississippi Farewell was recorded live to a sold out house at the historic Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis on January 31, 1994. It was produced by CLIVE GREGSON (Richard Thompson, Gregson and Collister) and mixed at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, a week after NIRVANA recorded NEVERMIND there. It features some of the best musicians in Minneapolis including JIMMY ANTON (Jonny Lang) on bass, AL OIKARI (the BIG WU) and JOHN EINWICK on keyboards, KENNY WILSON on pedal steel, TIM O'KEEFE (CATS UNDER THE STARS) on percussion and harmonica, JOE LUOMA (CATS UNDER THE STARS) drums, The 3 piece Downright Tight horn section (Merlin Brunkow-sax, Joe DeRasmi-trumpet, Mark Froelke-trumpet) The vocalists included PRUDENCE JOHNSON and GARY RUE. Other guest musicians featured MARK LIKTIG-Hammond B-3, and JOHN NIEMAN-fiddle.

It was Paul's farewell show to the Twin Cities before he moved to NYC. It was a very emotional night, the band played like this was there last gig (in a way it was) and the audience responded with love and enthusiasm. It was the last time Paul's Mother Bess heard him play. She died in May of '94 and the record is dedicated to her. If you like great musicians playing passionately, and on fire, backing up Metsa's critically acclaimed tunes, this record is for you. Paul hopes to repress this onto CD, and maybe even vinyl, at some point. In the meantime, it is available for digital download only. Enjoy!